The Joy of Gaming Podcast

Episode Thirty - The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Early-Game Impressions

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Thirty
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Early-Game Impressions

On this episode of The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we are traveling to Post-Upheaval Hyrule to explore the surface, the sky and the unfathomable depths of what is quite possibly the most anticipated game release in recent memory. Because after 6 years of waiting, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is finally here, and we couldn’t be more excited to discuss our early-game impressions in this episode. 

We start our discussion relatively spoiler-free, by looking at all of the new features of TOTK, including the completely reworked new arsenal of abilities - Ultrahand, Fuse, Ascend and Recall - and the three expansive biomes, including the reworked surface, as well as the brand new sky islands and the underground depths. Then we head into full spoilers, including the story beats and characters we’ve encountered, some important tips and tricks, and the weapons, abilities, shrines, temples and quests we’ve each experienced thus far. 

Also on this episode: we cover the latest physical game releases - including some new announcements from Limited Run Games and Super Rare Games - and all of the latest games coming to Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus between now and the end of May.

Run of Show:

00:01 - Podcast Primer

01:13 - Intro and “What’re you buying?” 

18:59 - Brandon’s Physical Games Corner (Limited Run Games, Super Rare Games)

34:34 - Rich’s Digital Picks (Xbox Game Pass and PS Plus)

52:04 - The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Early-Game Impressions

• Spoiler-Free Impressions
  • Initial thoughts (and how far are we, what have we done so far)
  • What’s the same, what’s different?
  • Major New Mechanics (Ultrahand, Ascend, Fuse, Recall)
  • New Biomes (Surface, Sky, Depths)
    
    
• --SPOILERS START AT 1:34:35--
  • Story impressions so far
  • Quests and Strategies
  • Final Thoughts

Episode Twenty-Nine - The Top 10 Best Games for the Nintendo GameCube

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Twenty-Nine
The Top 10 Best Games for the Nintendo GameCube

On this episode of The Joy of Gaming Podcast, we continue our journey to select “The Top 10 Best Games (for Every Console)”. This time, we’re celebrating the Nintendo GameCube - a misunderstood masterpiece of a console that was once derided as a huge misstep for Nintendo, but has now become one of the most beloved and popular consoles to collect for (with sky-high software prices to prove it). 

And while the console itself had a fun and childlike vibe - classically sporting a purple color scheme, a cute handle on the back, and tiny little mini-DVDs to house its games - very few consoles can boast such a concise, impressive library of true classics. From Luigi’s Mansion and Super Mario Sunshine, to The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Resident Evil 4, Metroid Prime, Pikmin and so many more - the GameCube either birthed or reinvented some of the world’s greatest franchises, and these days its finally getting its due. 

Our job for this episode is to create the Ultimate Top 10 list of Nintendo GameCube Games that we’d recommend - to gamers both new and old - who want to experience the absolute best that the console has to offer. So if you haven’t experienced the GameCube for yourself, we’re here to recommend the 10 best places to start. And if you are already well-versed, join us for this wonderful trip down memory lane. 

Run of Show:

00:10 - Introduction 

• How do we choose the Top 10?

02:44 - The History of the Nintendo GameCube

• History of the GameCube (Project Dolphin!)
• The GameCube Controller (and the WaveBird!)
• Notable GameCube Peripherals (Donkey Kong Bongos! GameBoy Player!)
• Our Histories with the GameCube 

36:09 - The Best GameCube Games: #6-10

1:05:08 - The Best GameCube Games: #1-5

1:37:58 - Honorable Mentions and Final Thoughts

Episode Twenty-Eight - Xbox’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week: Redfall, Phil Spencer Interview, CMA Blocks Acquisition & More

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Twenty-Eight
Xbox’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week - Redfall Impressions, Phil Spencer Interview, CMA Blocks Acquisition & More

On this episode of The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we discuss the biggest news story in gaming: Xbox’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week. From the semi-disastrous release of Redfall on Game Pass and PC, to the CMA’s blocking of the Activision/Blizzard/King acquisition, to Phil “Cranky Phil” Spencer’s surprisingly candid interview on KindaFunny about the future of the Xbox brand - this is a week that the game industry will be talking about for many years to come.

We look back on this past week from a variety of angles, analyzing some of Phil Spencer’s most candid and revealing quotes, and even offering our own, unbiased review impressions of Redfall - the game at the center of the firestorm. Spoiler: it may not be quite as bad as you’ve heard.

Also on this episode, we discuss our early impressions of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and Trinity Trigger, the latest digital releases on Xbox Game Pass and PS Plus, and the most interesting physical games releases and announcements from Limited Run Games, Super Rare, IAm8Bit and PlayAsia. It’s a jam-packed 2.5 hours, and we’re really glad you’re here.

Run of Show:

00:01 - Podcast Trailer

01:35 - Intro and “What’re you buying?” 

17:02 - Recent Gaming News

• Release Date Roundup
• Phil Spencer’s Interview on Kinda Funny
• CMA Blocks Activision Blizzard Acquisition
• Sony is Breaking Records with PS5 Sales
• PixelOpus Studio is Closing
• The Worst Zelda Game Gets New Life…on GameBoy?
  
  

01:22:05 - Brandon’s Physical Games Corner (Limited Run Games, Super Rare Games)

01:32:52  Rich’s Digital Picks (Xbox Game Pass and PS Plus)

01:51:05 - What We’ve Been Playing

• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (Early Impressions)
  
• Redfall (Impressions After 10 Hours)
• Trinity Trigger

02:27:24 - What We’re Playing Next / Outro

 

 

Episode 27 - The Legend of Zelda: Retrospective and Complete Series Chronology (Preparing for Tears of the Kingdom)

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Twenty-Seven
The Legend of Zelda: Retrospective and Complete Series Chronology (Preparing for Tears of the Kingdom)

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On this episode of The Joy of Gaming Podcast, we are getting ready for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom in the most complete way we could think of: by looking back and tracing the entire chronology of The Legend of Zelda series. We track the series’ origins on the NES all the way through Breath of the Wild on Switch, discussing each game in release order and also exploring its place in the overall series chronology. So if you have always wondered how the various mainline Zelda titles are connected, this episode has the answers.

After all, in 2013, two years after the release of Skyward Sword, Nintendo released the Hyrule Historia, from Dark Horse Books - an epic tome that finally revealed the official order of events for every game in the Zelda franchise. So for our journey, we start with this book, first walking through the three branching paths of the timeline at a high-level before zooming-in to see where each mainline game fits into the overarching narrative. 

And once we understand the chronology at a high-level, we travel back to 1986 and the original The Legend of Zelda to begin our complete series retrospective, game-by-game and memory-by-memory. So join us, as we celebrate one of the most storied franchises in all of gaming, and prepare for the next epic chapter in Link and Zelda’s adventures. 

Run of Show:

00:00 - Introductions / Our History with the Series 

10:39 - Background - The Legend of Zelda Chronology Explained (Hyrule Historia)

• Legend of the Gods and the Hero of Time
  • The Hero is Successful
    • Adult Era / Ganondorf Sealed
    • Child Era / The Sacred Realm Protected
  • The Hero is Defeated 

21:58 - The Legend of Zelda - Series Retrospective 

Mainline Series in Release Order: 

• The Legend of Zelda (JP - Famicom Disk System - The Hyrule Fantasy: Zelda no Densetsu - 1986; NA & PAL - NES - 1987; Battery save version in Japan - Famicom - 1994)
  • NES Classic Series (Gameboy Advance; JP, NA, PAL - 2004)
    
• Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (JP - Famicom Disk System - 1987; NA & PAL - NES - 1988)
  • NES Classic Series (Gameboy Advance; JP & NA - 2004; PAL - 2005)
    
• The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES; JP - 1991; NA & EU - 1992)
  • Gameboy Advance w/ Four Swords (NA - 2002; JP & EU - 2003); Four Swords Re-released on DSiWare (Four Swords Anniversary Ed. - 2011)
    
• The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (Gameboy; JP, NA, EU - 1993)
  • The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX (Gameboy Color; JP & NA - 1998; EU - 1999)
  • The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (Remake for Switch - 2019)
    
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64 - 1998; iQue Player (CHN) - 2003)
  • The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Master Quest (GameCube; JP - 2002; NA, EU & AU - 2003) - Two-Game Bonus Disc!
  • The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D (3DS - 2011)
    
• The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (N64 - 2000)
  • The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D (3DS - 2015)
    
• The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons & Oracle of Ages (Gameboy Color - 2001)
  
• The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GameCube; JP - 2002; NA, EU & AU - 2003)
  • The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD (Wii U - 2013)
    
• The Legend of Zelda Collector’s Edition - Promotional Disc (GameCube - 2003)
  • Includes 4 Classic Games! (The Legend of Zelda, Zelda II, Ocarina of Time, and Majora’s Mask)
    
• The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures (GameCube; JP & NA - 2004; EU & AU - 2005)
  
• The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (Gameboy Advance; JP & EU - 2004; NA & AU - 2005)
  
• The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii - Nov. 2006; GameCube - Dec. 2006; Nvidia Shield TV (CHN) - 2017)
  • The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD (Wii U - 2016)
    
• The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS - 2007)
  
• The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (DS - 2009)
  
• The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii - 2011)
  • The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD (Switch - 2021)
    
• The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (3DS - 2013)
  
• The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes (3DS - 2015)
  
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Wii U & Switch - 2017)
  
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Switch - May 12, 2023)
  
  

02:22:30 - The Legend of Zelda - Spin Off Titles

02:26:50 - Final Questions and Thoughts

• When did Nintendo Really Start Thinking about the Official Timeline?
• Recommended Games to Play First
• What a Journey

 

Episode Twenty-Six - Final Fantasy XVI State of Play, Nintendo Indie World, Redfall Hype Check, RE4 Remake Final Thoughts

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Twenty-Six
Final Fantasy XVI State of Play, Nintendo Indie World, Redfall Hype Check, RE4 Remake Final Thoughts

On this episode of The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we’re in that “in-between period” - just after Resident Evil 4 Remake, and just before Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and Tears of the Kingdom - but there is still a lot of exciting happenings in the gaming world. Case in point: Redfall is launching next week (though the pre-release hype is a bit underwhelming). We also got a brand new Sony State of Play for Final Fantasy XVI, and Nintendo held their latest IndieWorld Showcase which included some cool new info about Oxenfree 2, Blasphemous 2, and many more interesting titles. 

And speaking of RE4 Remake, we still have more to say about this incredible GOTY contender, especially the final third of the game set on the Ganados-and-Krauser-infested island. We also talk about some of the other games we’ve been playing, like Super Paper Mario, Paper Mario Color Splash, Syberia, Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp, and more. And as always, our bi-weekly segments - Brandon’s Physical Games Corner and Rich’s Digital Picks - are here to keep you up to speed on what’s new and exciting across the industry. 

Run of Show:

00:01 - Podcast Trailer

01:35 - Intro and “What’re you buying?” (GameStop’s “Hidden Retro List”)

22:48 - Recent Gaming News

• Release Date Roundup
• Nintendo IndieWorld Showcase 
• Sony Acquires a New AAA Studio
• Support Ending for Media Molecule’s Dreams
• Rumored Remakes (Jet Set Radio, Persona 3, Paper Mario: TTYD, more)
• State of Play: Final Fantasy XVI Impressions
• Nintendo Reveals where Tears of the Kingdom Will Begin

 

01:26:11 - Brandon’s Physical Games Corner (Limited Run Games, Super Rare Games)

01:45:56  Rich’s Digital Picks (Xbox Game Pass and PS Plus)

02:04:35 - What We’ve Been Playing

• Resident Evil 4 Remake (The Island and Final Impressions)
• Super Paper Mario and Paper Mario: Color Splash
• Syberia
• Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

 

02:46:28 - What We’re Playing Next / Outro

Episode Twenty-Five - The Top 10 Best Games for the Nintendo 64

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Twenty-Five
The Top 10 Best Games for the Nintendo 64 

On this episode of The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we continue our journey to select “The Top 10 Best Games (for Every Console)”, and this time we’re turning our gaze to the Nintendo 64 - a beloved but also controversial console that revolutionized the gaming space and provided the definitive roadmap for what 3D gaming could be. But along with its bona fides as a groundbreaking piece of tech, the N64 was unfortunately held back by a weird controller, a lack of 3rd-party support, and the baffling decision to stick with game cartridges over optical media. But regardless, the N64 is a system that has endured, and that’s thanks in large part to games like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Super Mario 64, GoldenEye 007, and many, many more.

Our goal for this episode is to create the ultimate list of N64 games that we’d recommend to gamers - both new and old - who want to experience the absolute best that the console has to offer. And although the N64 doesn’t have a huge library, there were still more than enough amazing experiences for us to have trouble narrowing things down. So if you haven’t experienced the N64 for yourself, we’re here to recommend the 10 best places to start. And if you are already well-versed, join us for this wonderful trip down memory lane.

Run of Show:

00:10 - Introduction and History of the N64

• How does this series work?
• Personal Histories with the N64
• History of the N64
• Notable N64 Peripherals
  
  

33:10 - The Top 10 Best Games for The Nintendo 64

01:18:23 - Honorable Mentions and Stories Behind the Games

01:33:40 - Closing Words and Social Media

 

Episode Twenty-Four - Resident Evil 4 Remake Review, Tears of the Kingdom Gameplay Reveal Breakdown

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Twenty-Four
Resident Evil 4 Remake Review, Tears of the Kingdom Gameplay Reveal Breakdown

On this episode of The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we review Capcom’s new reimagining of one of the greatest games ever made in any genre - Resident Evil 4 Remake. We wade deep into the Village, the Castle and the Island, discussing our overall thoughts on the game, talking about the new and returning game mechanics, breaking down the various differences from the original, and weighing in on whether or not this remake is now the definitive way to experience RE4. 

We also discuss Nintendo’s recent Tears of the Kingdom gameplay reveal, including our thoughts on each of the various new game mechanics that were shown - like Fuse, Ascend, Ultrahand and Recall - and our overall takeaways and theories on how this new game will take the Breath of the Wild formula to grand new heights (quite literally). And as always, our bi-weekly segments - Brandon’s Physical Games Corner and Rich’s Digital Picks - are here to keep you up to speed on what’s new and exciting across the industry. 

Run of Show:

00:01 - Podcast Introduction

01:35 - Welcome and Latest Pick-ups (“What’re you buying?”)

23:13 - Recent Gaming News

• Release Date Roundup
• New TMNT Game Based on “The Last Ronin”
• Atari Buys NightDive Studios
• E3 is Canceled (the End of an Era?) 
• Tears of the Kingdom Gameplay Reveal Breakdown

54:49 - Brandon’s Physical Games Corner (Limited Run Games, Special Reserve, More)

1:11:30  Rich’s Digital Picks (Xbox Game Pass and PS Plus)

1:24:33 - Resident Evil 4 Remake - Review, Part 1 (Spoiler-Free)

1:43:40 - Resident Evil 4 Remake - Review, Part 2 (Full Spoilers)

2:25:47 - What We’re Playing Next / Outro

 

Episode Twenty-Three - The Top 10 Best Games for the SNES

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Twenty-Three
The Top 10 Best Games for the SNES 

On this episode of The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we continue our journey to select “The Top 10 Best Games (for Every Console)”, and this time we’re turning our gaze to Nintendo’s sophomore release in the home console market, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, or SNES. Our job as always is to create the ultimate list of games that we’d recommend to gamers new and old who want to experience the absolute best that the console has to offer, but choosing just 10 games from the SNES library just may prove an impossible task. After all, these are some of the greatest games ever made.

From The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, to Super Metroid, to Super Mario World and so many more - it’s difficult to overstate the impact, legacy and historical significance of the SNES library. And although the console and its library hold a crucial place in gaming history, all of these games also hold up tremendously well today. So if you haven’t experienced the joy of the SNES for yourself, we’re here to recommend the 10 best places to start. And if you are already well-versed in the SNES’s catalog, join us for the celebration, and then let us know what games you would recommend that we have missed or simply didn’t make the excruciating cut. 

Run of Show:

00:10 - Introduction / History of the SNES

28:15 - The Top 10 Best Games for The SNES 

• Sharing our individual Top 10 Lists
• Honorable Mentions and Stories
• Assembling the TJOG Official Top 10 List

01:38:49 - The Final List is Revealed (after all deliberations)

 

Episode Twenty-Two - Resident Evil Retrospective: Resident Evil (PS1) to Resident Evil 4 Remake (PS5/XSX)

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Twenty-Two
Resident Evil Retrospective: Resident Evil (PS1) to Resident Evil 4 Remake (PS5/XSX)

On this episode of The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we prepare for Resident Evil 4 Remake in the only way that seemed fitting: by taking a look back at the entire Resident Evil franchise and celebrating the massive impact this game has had. After all, Capcom’s series brought the term “survival horror” into existence, creating a brand new game genre and then evolving their own formula with each and every subsequent entry. It’s quite a legacy, and one that remains stronger than ever.

We discuss the entire game series - from the first entry on Playstation (Resident Evil), through the many sequels, re-releases and remakes on Gamecube and PS2 (Resident Evil GC Remake, Resident Evil 4, etc.), to the most recent modern entries, including the remakes of Resident Evil 2 and 3, and the move to first-person with RE7: Biohazard and RE Village - and it’s a heck of a journey. We even take time to acknowledge Sweet Home - an obscure Famicom horror title never released in the US that nonetheless played a crucial role in inspiring the Resident Evil series.

Run of Show:

00:01 - Intro / Editor’s Note

01:04 - Resident Evil Retrospective

• Resident Evil (PS1 - 1996; PC, Sega Saturn - 1997)
  • Resident Evil: Director’s Cut (PS1 - 1997)
  • Resident Evil: Director’s Cut (Greatest Hits Dual Shock Version, PS1 - 1998)
  • Resident Evil REmake (GameCube - 2002; Remaster: PS3, PS4, Win, X360, XBO - 2015; Switch - 2019)
  • Resident Evil Archives: Resident Evil (Wii - 2009)
  • Resident Evil: Deadly Silence (DS - 2006)

• Resident Evil 2 (PS1 - 1998; N64, PC - 1999; Dreamcast - 2000, GameCube - 2003)
  • Resident Evil 2 Remake (PS4, XBO, PC - 2019; PS5, XBSX|S, Switch, Amazon Luna - 2022)

• Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (PS1 - 1999; Dreamcast, PC - 2000, GameCube - 2003)
  • Resident Evil 3 Remake (PS4, XBO, PC - 2020; PS5, XBSX|S, Switch, Amazon Luna - 2022)

• Resident Evil –  Code: Veronica (Dreamcast - 2000)
  • Resident Evil: Code Veronica X (PS2 - 2001; Gamecube - 2003; PS3, X360 - 2011)

• Resident Evil 0 (GameCube - 2002; Remaster: PS3, PS4, X360, XBO, PC - 2016, Switch - 2019)
  • Resident Evil Archives: Resident Evil 0 (Wii - 2009)

• Resident Evil 4 (GameCube - Jan, 2005; PS2 - October, 2005; PC, Wii - 2007; iOS, Zeebo (BR) - 2009; PS3, X360 - 2011; Android - 2013; PS4, XBO - 2016; Switch - 2019; Oculus Quest 2 (VR) - 2021)
  • Resident Evil 4 Remake (PS4, PS5, XBSX|S, PC - 2023)

• Resident Evil 5 (PS3, X360, PC - 2009 / Gold Edition - 2010; PS4, XBO, Shield Android TV - 2016; Switch - 2019)

• Resident Evil Revelations (3DS - 2012; PS3, X360, PC, WiiU - 2013; PS4, XBO, Switch - 2017)

• Resident Evil 6 (PS3, X360 - 2012; PC - 2013; PS4, XBO - 2016; Switch - 2019)

• Resident Evil Revelations 2 (Episodes 1-4: PS3, PS4, X360, XBO, PC - Feb-Mar 2015, Retail version: PS3, PS4, Vita, X360, XBO, PC - 2015; Switch - 2017)

• Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (PS4, XBO, PC - 2017; Amazon Luna - 2020; Stadia - 2021; PS5, XBSX|S, Switch - 2022)

• Resident Evil VIllage (PS4, PS5, XBO, XBSX|S, PC, Stadia - 2021; macOS, Switch - 2022)

• Spin-offs

03:02:09 - Conclusion / What's Coming Next

 

Episode Twenty-One - Sea of Stars Demo, Resident Evil 4 Remake Reviews, Preparing for the Nintendo eShop Closing, and Remembering Lance Reddick

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Twenty-One
Sea of Stars Demo, Resident Evil 4 Remake Reviews, Preparing for the Nintendo eShop Closing, and Remembering Lance Reddick

On this episode of The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we try to keep our anticipation for Resident Evil 4 Remake in check a bit longer as we discuss the latest gaming news, including RE4 reviews, our preparations for the closing of the Nintendo eShop for Wii U and 3DS, rumors of a potential new Castlevania game from Konami (thanks Dead Cells) and the incredibly sad passing of actor Lance Reddick, an absolute giant of the games industry. We also discuss the stellar Sea of Stars Demo, Brandon’s continuing adventures in Octopath Traveler 2, Rich’s not-so-triumphant return to Final Fantasy XIV, our thoughts on Metroid Prime Remastered, and the latest release announcements for Game Pass, Playstation Plus and from Limited Run Games.  

Run of Show:

00:01 - Podcast Trailer

01:35 - Intro Segment (RE4 Remake Hype)

09:40 - Recent Gaming News

• Release Date Roundup
• Dead Cells helps Konami Wake Up RE: Castlevania
• New Gameboy and NES Games coming to Switch Online
• Nintendo eShop Closing March 27 - Our Preparations and Recommendations
• Lance Reddick’s Passing

 

29:19 - Brandon’s Physical Games Corner (Limited Run Games, Special Reserve, More)

39:40  Rich’s Digital Picks (Xbox Game Pass and PS Plus)

50:39 - What We’ve Been Playing

• Sea of Stars Demo
• Octopath Traveler II
• Final Fantasy XIV: Online
• Metroid Prime Remastered

01:43:22 - What We’re Playing Next / Outro